About the Channel Islands

You will find the Channel Islands nestling in the Bay of St Malo, close to France and the French influence in all the islands is immediately obvious as soon as you step off the plane or boat.

The Channel Islands are constitutionally separate from the UK and France and are pretty much self-governing. The States of Jersey and The States of Guernsey (known in each island as 'The States') legislate and govern, effectively running the islands at a local level. As British Crown Dependencies, they are also linked to the Privy Council and the Queen in the UK.

Jersey is the largest of the islands at 45 square miles, with a population of some 99,000 inhabitants. Guernsey has around 63,000 inhabitants in 25 square miles, and Alderney, Sark, Herm and other islands are much smaller, but each with their own indigenous population.

There are extensive transport links to the islands. Air and sea links to both the UK and France make it as easy to hop on a plane or boat to get from A to B as travel by a train. Flight times range between 30 and 60 minutes to the most popular destinations.

Restaurants, hotels and pubs offer options for all tastes and budgets, generally provide excellent quality and value, catering for both the high demands of the business sector as well as the discerning tourist. The islands also offer a wide variety of leisure facilities from golf to water sports, live music to health retreats, meeting the interests and appetites of the very cosmopolitan populations in all the islands.